“Lord, above, Lill. I’m not dying. You do remember you’re coming to Norfolk too, in just a few weeks? In the meantime, you can put your feet up.”
Lill sniffed and nodded. “I know. I truly am happy. It’s just all happened so fast, it takes a bit of getting used to.”
Alice nodded and opened the drawer of her dressing table. “Well, I hope that this might make you feel a bit more settled. All I’ve ever wanted is for us both to have security, to never worry about having a roof over our heads or where our next meal is coming from. I couldn’t have done any of this without you, Lill, so this is yours now.”
She took out a thick sheaf of papers and handed them to Lill, who gazed at them in consternation.
“What’s all this, then?”
“Those are the deeds to this house. It’s all yours. Obviously, you’ll live with us for as long as you want, but you can rent this out. Little Valentine will become a fancy summer retreat soon, so you’ll be able to charge a good rent for it. And it gives you the option to move out if you ever have enough of me and want to retire.”
Lill gazed down at the papers, her throat working. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. We’re family, you and I, and family look after each other. Always.”
“Always,” Lill agreed, nodding fiercely. She met Alice’s gaze, and their shared past shone there, everything that bound them together. “I know you credit me with keeping you alive, but you’ve always been the clever one, Alice, the brave one. You took all the risks, you got us here, not me, and I’m that grateful—”
Her voice wobbled and she pressed her lips together.
“Ah, Lill. We got here together, and now we both have a future, a wonderful future.”
“Reckon so,” Lill said, sniffing vigorously. “And I can’t wait for you to start producing babies, so don’t hang about on this honeymoon of yours.”
Despite being well used to Lill’s rather frank sense of humour, Alice blushed, which delighted Lill, who laughed until she cried once more.
Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, 29thJanuary 1816
Aubrey smiled, his heart full as Vinnie stared down at the diamond parure that she had thought lost to her, tears rolling down her face. They had retreated to the orangery for a bit of privacy and the scent of the sweet blossom drifted around them.
“I can’t take it all in. Alice and Alfie are one and the same, and… and Alfie stole these back for us?”
Aubrey nodded gravely. With Alfie’s permission, he had decided to trust in his sister, who had never let him down before, and whilst her eyes had grown wider and wider with every revelation, she had endured his recital with admirable calm.
“Alice is a remarkable person. I really do think you will adore her.”
Vinnie snorted. “I already do! Not only do I have Mama’s diamonds back, but I have a sister who dresses as a man, who lives exactly how she pleases and does all the things she wishesto do, and if you think I’m not going to ask her to help me do likewise, you’re mad.”
Aubrey stared at his pretty sister in horror. As usual, she was beautifully dressed, her deep auburn hair artfully styled. The idea of her doing what Alice did was hard to swallow. Stupidly, this was one aspect of his revealing the truth that he’d not stopped to consider. Naturally, Vinnie would covet the freedom such a reckless move would give her. His heart lurched in terror.
“No!I absolutely forbid it. You forget Alice has lived this way from the time she was six years old, she’s had years to practise blending in, besides which she doesn’t just do it for a lark. It’s not as easy as just putting on trousers and strolling about without a care, Vinnie.”
Vinnie rolled her eyes. “Well, I never thought it would be. Credit me with a bit of intelligence.”
“After what you just said? Good Lord, Vinnie. I’ve endured enough terror these past weeks to send me to an early grave. I do not need you to dig the hole.”
Vinnie snorted and reached out, patting his hand. “Stop looking so horrified. I’ll follow Alfie’s instructions to the letter, and I won’t set foot in public until we are both certain I am ready. There, sensible enough for you?”
Aubrey groaned inwardly, secretly planning to do whatever it took to ensure Alice never thought his sister ready for that insanity. Vinnie was clever and bold, but she had none of the instincts that Alice had been forced to acquire over a lifetime of looking over her shoulder. “Fine, but you cannot tell anyone about Alfie. You must swear to me, Vinnie. Not even Della.”
“Well, of course I won’t. What do you take me for? Though I will say it’s a good job Sherry turned up when he did.”
Aubrey regarded her in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Well, it would be jolly awkward if Della became increasingly enamoured of Alfie, wouldn’t it? But with Sherry here, she’ll have eyes for no one else. No offense to Alfie, but Sherry knocks him into a cocked hat.”
“Della? AndSherry?”Aubrey must have looked suitably appalled, for Vinnie snorted with laughter.
“Don’t be silly. Sherry would never even think of it. He’s a wicked devil, I’ll grant you, but seducing his best friend’s sister is a bit rich even for him. Della has adored him forever, though. Surely you knew that?” she exclaimed, staring at him in astonishment.
